VANN: The sensitivity of different winter survival strategies in juvenile salmon to natural and anthropogenic variation in climate condition

Juvenile salmon winter survival is critically dependent on a combination of catabolism of stored fats and protein and intake of energy through food consumption. We propose a study aimed at providing the necessary knowledge base to predict the effect of na tural- or anthropogenic changes in climatic or thermal conditions (including hydropower developments) on juvenile Atlantic salmon winter energy budgets and survival. The project involves a comparative approach, using the large geographical distribution of the species as a natural experiment to study the relative importance of stored energy and energy from food consumption on winter survival under different climatic conditions. Spatial and temporal patterns in winter energy budgets and winter survival will be assessed from field data. The relative importance of stored energy and energy from food consumption for winter survival under different climatic conditions will then be estimated by energetic modelling using a combination of field data and experimenta lly parameterised models. On this background, predictive models will be developed in order to address the sensitivity of different energy allocation strategies to changes in winter season, temperature and ice cover conditions. The project will extend expe rimental work and yield model development from a number of previously funded data sources.